Shopping centre Santa Bruce Skilbeck and granddaughter Lily Hogan spread Christmas cheer

For a Cairns grandfather and granddaughter duo, spreading Christmas cheer is a family affair.

Bruce Skilbeck has been donning the red suit as Santa Claus at DFO Shopping Centre this year, spreading the joy of the Christmas season to the young and the young at heart. Santa, aka Bruce Skilbeck, gifts a Christmas present to his granddaughters Lilly Hogan, 11, and Grace Hogan, 5, at the Esplanade Lagoon. Picture: Brendan Radke

For a Cairns grandfather and granddaughter duo, spreading Christmas cheer is a family affair.

Donning the red suit for his second year, DFO shopping centre Santa Bruce Skilbeck said the best part of his festive role was spreading joy to families in need of a little Christmas cheer.

“Some ladies have brought their mother’s in with dementia ... I looked up one time and the photographer was crying, the mother was crying and they were emotional because this lady had gone back to an eight-year-old (version of herself) and wanted a dolly,” Ms Skilbeck said.

He said he had been impressed with children’s Christmas wishes, with most simply wanting to spend a fun day with their families.

“Some of them want just a good Christmas Day with the family – they are saying ‘I want whatever you bring me’,” he said.

“Of course there’s (some) who ask for a scooter but generally they’ve been really good.”

Mr Skilbeck said some of his most special moments had been interacting with young children with disabilities.

“One wouldn’t talk to me at all (at first), then they had to come and take him away by the end – he told me about Diesel, his dog, and his cat,” he said.

“And I had girl (who) came up and gave me a big hug and said I love you Santa.”

Helping Mr Skilbeck to spread Christmas cheer is granddaughter and ‘helper elf’ Lily Hogan, 11.

“It’s really cool seeing your own grandparent as a character and making many other kids happy,” Lily said.

“It’s really amazing how he does that.”

Like her grandfather, Lily’s top wish for Christmas was to spend a special day with her family.

“I just really want a happy Christmas,” she said.

Originally published as Shopping centre Santa Bruce Skilbeck and granddaughter Lily Hogan spread Christmas cheer